If someone would have told me 10 years ago that today I would be the Employment Services Manager for an agency that helps individuals with disabilities find work in the community, I don't know that I would have believed them. Having said that, I can't think of a better place to be! It is a culmination of a lot of my previous experiences all rolled up into a job that I never even knew existed when I was growing up, or even in college.
I went to college thinking I would be a journalist, but ended up with a BS in Education and headed to grad school to become a speech pathologist. After a few semesters, my focus changed when I got married and started having children. I was working at a library part-time during some of my undergraduate studies and ended up getting hired there full time. I stayed in the library field for a few years and then went to work for my church because it was in need of a bookkeper. That turned into an office manager position and started my many years of non-profit experience. Mix in with that working at a non-profit radio station, working as an event projects manager, and working in marketing at a financial institution and it makes sense that I ended up here, right? Not really, but my current job does utilize a lot of my former experience.
It is a mix of special education, non-profit management, sales, and marketing. I started out as a job developer. My job was to assist individuals with disabilities in finding employment in the community. I knew back then that is was the right thing to do and that it would be a very rewarding job, but I didn't understand the big picture at that point.
Now, with a few years behind me, I am passionate about the idea of "Employment First." This means that employment should be the first option for any adult with a disability who wants to work. Why? Because employment is a part of adult life. It is an expectation that adults will grow up and find a way to support themselves through work. It is not always an expectation of those working with adults with disabilities though. Some people believe that adults with disabilities should just apply for disability benefits and then find a day program that will fill their day and allow them to be around others who are like them.
The reason I believe in "Employment First" is that I do believe that in order to increase a person's quality of life, they need an integrated work environment where they can earn an income. An individual who is reliant on social security only, will always live in poverty. Also, being around others who don't have a disability, increases a person's network of support. It allows them access to relationships and resources that are greater than those you will typically find in a day service setting alone.
Working also means that the individual will not be as reliant on benefits from the government. They are tax payers who will be adding to the economy of the community and the country. It allows individuals to have greater independence and greater self-esteem when the work that they do is appreciated.
There are lots of other reasons why I am here, reasons for why I get up each day and do the work that I do. It is always an adventure. I hope to use this blog to educate others on how including individuals with disabilities is good for everyone. I hope you will continue reading.
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